Brigadoon June 26, 2010 @GPL

Lou's Upcycles Program for Teens @ GPL

Massachusetts Library System (MLS) Update

The following message was posted to the WMRLS email discussion list on July 18, 2010

On July 1st the Massachusetts Library System (MLS) will begin operations. All regional library services will be delivered by this new organization. Members of the six former regions will automatically become members of MLS as a result of the merger that has been taking place over the past several months.

This is a sad time as we wish the best to many of our regional colleagues who will not be continuing with the new organization due to budget constraints. We will miss them. They deserve our thanks for the stellar work they have done to allow member libraries to be successful and thrive. And those of us in the regional library systems appreciate the support of our members during this difficult time.

Now it is time to look to the future. We will be developing MLS to continue this important work for all libraries in Massachusetts. Granted our budget and staffing levels are smaller. We will need to take advantage of the streamlined administration designed by the Regional Transition Planning Team and the MLS Executive Board to build an efficient service center and fulfill the MLS mission:

The Massachusetts Library System, a state-supported collaborative, fosters cooperation, communication, innovation, and sharing among member libraries of all types. The MLS promotes equitable access to excellent library services and resources for all who live, work, or study in Massachusetts.

MLS headquarters will be located at 135 Beaver Street in Waltham. We will also maintain an office at 4 Sandy Lane, Whately. You may know these locations as the current headquarters of the Metrowest and Western Massachusetts Library Systems. The other regional offices will be closed in order to reduce operating costs.

MLS Contact Information as of July 1, 2010:

781-398-1819 – We will establish a toll free number too.

www.masslibsystem.org - This site is live and already includes some information about MLS

MLS will use a new email broadcast tool. Official statewide announcements from MLS will be sent from
mls-announcements@mblc.state.ma.us. This mailing list is broadcast only. Recipients can respond to the sender but not to the entire list. We will provide sign up information. If you are currently subscribed to a regional listserv, this new list will include your email address.

The "allregions" listserv will remain available for communications among members.

We will be posting additional phone numbers and email addresses as they are established.

MLS Core Services will include:

Delivery
Mediated Interlibrary Loan and Journal Article Document Delivery
Continuing Education
Advisory and Consulting Services
Online Content, e.g., databases
Purchasing Cooperatives
Summer Reading Program
MassCat

Delivery Services will be provided in a familiar way. Former WMRLS members will continue to be served by the same delivery personnel and a small amount of contract work. The current provider, Eastern Carrier, will serve the central region. Eastern Connection will continue to serve both the metrowest and northeast regions. The southeastern and Boston regions will be served by Optima. This will be a change for the Boston region.

Mediated interlibrary loan will be provided by the Thomas Crane Memorial Library in Quincy and the Wellesley Free Library. Libraries will be served by their current provider. The Boston Public Library will continue to provide journal article document delivery service.

MLS staff will begin planning continuing education programs, advisory services, and next year's summer reading program in July. Watch our web site for announcements.

Some of the six regions are renewing their licenses for online content for fy2011. While MLS will not be directly involved in these services, we need to know if you face any issues.

Purchasing cooperative information is being issued by the six regions. MLS will later consolidate this information on our site.

MassCat, a shared integrated library system with about 80 members, will continue as a service of MLS.

MLS will provide many opportunities for members to participate in governance and in providing advice and feedback to assist us in meeting your libraries' needs. I encourage you to participate and to stay in touch with us and let us know your thoughts about our services.

By Greg Pronevitz, MLS Executive Director designee

greg@nmrls.org - 888-326-7772 – until June 30th

greg@masslibsystem.org - 781-398-1819 on July 1st

Photos of June 15 WMRLS Staff Appreciation Day

WMRLS Staff Appreciation Party

The following message was posted to the WMRLS Email Discussion List on June 16:

To all the Friends and Supporters of the Western Massachusetts Regional Library System:

Thank you so very much for attending the WMRLS Staff Appreciation Party yesterday afternoon and showing the WMRLS staff just how much we library people in Western Mass. appreciate their decades of professionalism, dedication and friendship in supporting our efforts to bring the best in library services to the Western Massachusetts community. For those of you that could not attend, we felt that you were there in spirit, and please know that we who were there did our best to express your appreciation as well.

It was my honor as Vice President of the Friends of Western Massachusetts Regional Library System, on behalf of our President Antonia (Toni) Golinski-Foisy, to present to WMRLS Administrator John Ramsay a second check from the Friends in the amount of $10,000 to assist with the transistion.

I wish to thank publicly Eric Poulin, former President of the WMRLS Executive Board, and the WMRLS Friends Executive Board members who worked so hard to make this party truly a success: Lynn Kleindienst, Lynn Coakley, Dick Floyd, Linda Wentworth, and Louise Kanus. Thank you, especially, to all who brought such wonderful finger foods and beverages. It was truly an amazing, and thankfully very positive experience for all involved.

We wish our colleagues at the Western Massachusetts Regional Library System all the very best as most of them begin a new "chapter" in their lives. We will miss you. Please visit our libraries and keep in touch.

Debbie
Deborah G. Bruneau, Director
Adams Free Library
92 Park Street
Adams, Ma 01220-2096
Tel. 413-743-8345
Fax 413-743-8344
dbruneau@town.adams.ma.us

WMRLS Merger Voting Completed / Open House June 15

The following message was posted to the WMRLS Email Discussion List on Thursday, June 10, 2010:

Dear Western Massachusetts Library Community:


Yesterday morning, June 9, the final votes were tallied on the proposed merger of the Western Massachusetts Regional Library System (WMRLS), with the other regions, into the new Massachusetts Library System (MLS). The required 2/3 of the voting representatives to the Council of Members voted to proceed with the merger. The WMRLS Executive Board confirmed the vote yesterday afternoon, and signed the necessary documents.


We know there were many concerns about the loss of WMRLS and fear that Western libraries might be overlooked by a statewide organization located far away. The grass roots advocacy and support of all of you, including the Friends of WMRLS, the We Love Western Mass Libraries FaceBook page, the media and library users throughout the 4 county area certainly made a difference and ensured that the voice of Western Massachusetts would be heard. We also deeply appreciate the help and responsiveness of Western Representatives and Senators. In the end, however, there was to be no restoration of the 29% State budget cut to Board of Library Commissioner regional account (7000-9401). This cut, following earlier reductions, would have made it extremely difficult for WMRLS to continue offering all the services required that our libraries have relied on for almost 50 years.


It is expected that final language in the FY11 State budget will call for the new MLS organization to continue operating the WMRLS headquarters in Whately, at least through June of 2011. We hope member libraries will continue to enjoy workshops and meetings at this state-of-the art facility. It is also planned that our excellent delivery service provided by our drivers will continue at least for the next year. Remember, you are now part of the Massachusetts Library System. It is important that you stay involved, and make sure the new organization is aware of your needs.


It has been an honor and a privilege for all of us at WMRLS to serve you over the years. We hope as many of you as possible can try to join us at WMRLS in Whately on Tuesday, June 15, for an Open House between 2 and 5 p.m. arranged by the Friends of WMRLS, whose advocacy, fundraising and public awareness efforts have meant so much to us.


Sincerely,

John Ramsay

Regional Administrator

Western Massachusetts Regional Library System

New Greenfield Public Library Hours Starting July 1, 2010

Starting July 1, 2010 the Greenfield Public Library will be changing its hours. Our new hours will be as follows:

• Monday – 2pm-5pm
• Tuesday – 9:30am-8pm
• Wednesday – 9:30am-5pm
• Thursday – 9:30am-5pm
• Friday – 9:30am-5pm
• Saturday – 9:00am-1pm

With these hours we will be open six days a week for the convenience for our patrons. We look forward to seeing you again on Mondays.

GLBT Round Table announces new Over the Rainbow Committee

NEWS
For Immediate Release
May 28, 2010

Contact: Rubina Isaac

CHICAGO - The Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgendered Round Table of the American Library Association announces the establishment of the Over the Rainbow Committee. The committee is charged with creating an annual bibliography of titles of interest to adult readers that reflect lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or queer (LGBTQ) experiences. The first ALA Over the Rainbow Books list will be announced in January 2011.

The committee is currently seeking titles for the 2010 list. Titles considered for inclusion must

* have been published between July 2009 and December 2010;
* be suitable for adult readers;
* show a positive view toward the LGBTQ community through the events and people in the book, whether fiction or nonfiction;
* provide significant LGBTQ content, although the primary focus of the book need not be LGBTQ;
* be of sufficiently high quality that the Over the Rainbow Committee can endorse.

The ALA Over the Rainbow lists will provide communities with guidance in selecting commendable books that reflect LGBTQ experiences. Many LGBTQ titles remain hidden from readers because they are not identified by subject headings and/or the LGBTQ content is excluded from publisher information. This annual annotated bibliography of commendable books developed by library professionals will help librarians, bookstore managers and readers identify LGBTQ books worthy of a wide audience.

The project will continue on an annual basis, with each list compiling books published during that calendar year and the last six months of the previous year. For more information, please visit: http://alaovertherainbow.wordpress.com

Members of the Over the Rainbow Committee are Arla Jones (chair), Jane Cothron, Cecil Hixon, Brent Husher, Jesse Nachem, Danielle Pollock, Larry Romans and Nel Ward.

For further information please contact Peter Hepburn, chair, GLBTRT External Relations Committee at phepburn@uic.edu or Arla Jones, chair, Over the Rainbow Committee at ArlaJones@gmail.com

View an expanded version of this news release on the American Libraries site.

Summer Reading: Massachusetts Book Awards fiction, nonfiction, poety, and children's/ya literature

The Massachusetts Center for the Book announced this year’s award winners in fiction, nonfiction, poetry and children’s/young adult literature during an evening reception on opening night of the Massachusetts Library Association annual conference, held this year at the Resort & Conference Center in Hyannis,. The awards recognize significant books by Massachusetts writers or about Massachusetts subjects that were
published in the preceding year. Established in 2000, when the Massachusetts Center for the Book was formally affiliated in the Commonwealth, the awards trace the vitality of 21st-century Massachusetts literary life. And the Winners Are ....

[allregions] News From MBLC--New Massachusetts Library System Gains Support

The following message was posted to the ALLREGIONS email discussion list on Monday, May 24 at 8:40 PM:

New Massachusetts Library System Gains Support

On July 1, 2010 the new Massachusetts Library System (MLS) will begin operating as the sole provider of regional library services for the more than 1700 public, school, academic, and special libraries across the state. These services were previously delivered by six regional library systems but FY2011 state budget reductions necessitated restructuring and consolidation into one system that will provide core library services such as interlibrary loan. For full information on this process, please see the Regional Transition Planning Committee Final Report (http://mblc.state.ma.us/mblc/regional/transition/index.php ).

While MLS gears up for July, with final interviews this week for the Executive Director position and other key positions being filled, the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC) has worked closely with Governor Patrick and key members of the House and Senate to reach a unified approach to the provision of regional services within a severely constrained FY2011 budget.

On May 14, the Patrick Administration and the Board of Library Commissioners issued a joint fact sheet (http://mblc.state.ma.us/mblc/regional/transition/library-factsheet.pdf) in support of the Massachusetts Library System (MLS) as the single administrative entity to carry out regional services while stating a commitment to a service location in the western part of the state.

Members of the House and Senate have also taken strides to encourage the support of MLS. Representative John Scibak (South Hadley) has taken a leadership role in this issue and wrote to the entire western Massachusetts legislative delegation asking them to support MLS and offering language to assure a physical presence in the west.

Senators Brewer, Downing, Knapik and Rosenberg filed an amendment to the Senate budget that will be debated this week that states, “provided further, that the board of library commissioners shall provide funds for the continued operation of a single regional library system to serve the different geographic regions of the Commonwealth, and requiring that physical locations be maintained in both eastern and western Massachusetts to serve the residents of said regions.”

The Board of Library Commissioners welcomes the support and direction of the legislature. “This is an important step forward,” said MBLC Chairman George Comeau. “The proposed amendment when adopted will clarify the next steps in the difficult consolidation of the six regional library systems. Only with the consolidation of all regions can the best possible services be sustained for all libraries and residents of the Commonwealth.” Comeau added that “this consolidation will place library services at the forefront of the rebuilding process as we move forward. These are difficult choices, made in the face of historic cuts, and we are grateful to Senate and House leaders who have stepped forward to support our initiatives.” Having the Administration, the Legislature and the MBLC working together clears the way for the transition to MLS.
___________________________________________
Robert C. Maier, Director
Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners
617-725-1860 x249

Pittsfield partners with TD Bank in Summer Reading incentive

As reported in the Berkshire Eagle, the Berkshire Athenaeum, Pittsfield's Public Library, is partnering with TD Bank to offer a new summer reading incentive  in addition to the traditional summer reading program. Kids who register to participate and read 10 books by September 30 will receive a $10 deposit to a new or existing TD Bank Young Saver account. The Athenaeum's Summer Reading Program, Go Green@ Your Library, just got a little greener for our young readers!

-Submitted by Madeline Kelly

[WMRLS] Merger Vote Reminder and Updates

The following message was posted to the WMRLS email discussion list on Sunday, May 23 at 2:10 p.m.

Dear Western Region Libraries:

This is a reminder that we need you to vote on the proposed merger of WMRLS with the other regions into a new statewide organization called the Massachusetts Library System (MLS). Ballots were sent by mail to all WMRLS voting representatives, and these must be cast by 5 p.m. on Tuesday, May 25, 2010. Ballots may be submitted at the 10 a.m. WMRLS Council of Members meeting at the Agawam Public Library on the 25th, where lively and spirited discussion is sure to take place. If you cannot be in Agawam, you can participate in the session online at http://www.wmrls.org/mergermeeting. You can vote online at http://www.wmrls.org/mergervote. You can also give your ballot to someone else (proxy) to cast your vote for you. Faxing your completed ballot to WMRLS is another option, to 413-665-8877. NOTE, in order for any vote to be counted, you must use the PIN number in the lower right hand corner of the ballot.

Many people are torn about whether to vote for or against the merger. There has been a great deal of advocacy from throughout Western Massachusetts in hopes that WMRLS can continue operating and providing important services to member libraries as it has for almost 50 years. We must, however, report on recent budgetary and legislative developments that may well affect how you vote.

Thus far in the State’s FY11 budget process, all steps have kept the FY11 amount for the MBLC’s Regional account (7000-9401) at the 29% cut called for in the Governor’s budget. This reduced funding level is what caused all the talk of consolidation in the first place. Although there is one amendment to the Senate budget to increase funding to the current FY10 level, all indications are that a restoration of funds is unlikely. Therefore, despite how people feel in their hearts and allegiances, an AFFIRMATIVE VOTE may make the most sense in the short and long term for our member libraries.

Recognizing that the funds are simply not there, Senators Brewer, Downing, Knapik and Rosenberg last week filed Amendment 72 that inserts this language: “provided further, that the board of library commissioners shall provide funds for the continued operation of a single regional library system to serve the different geographic regions of the Commonwealth, and requiring that physical locations be maintained in both eastern and western Massachusetts to serve the residents of said regions.”

This language is different from House Budget language that called for funding of two separate regional organizations, one in the east and one in the west. This Senate wording calls for there to be one statewide system (MLS), with service locations in both the east and the west. Rep. John Scibak, who had filed the House amendment, worked tirelessly to help develop and promote this Senate language, realizing the difficulty WMRLS would have providing all required regional services with inadequate funds to sustain two separate regions. We wish this were not the case, but it is.

The Senate budget language, assuming it is passed by the full Senate and a Senate/House Conference Committee, is Western legislators’ attempt to ensure that MLS will operate a facility and provide services in the West. To all our legislators, we extend our sincere appreciation for their efforts to WMRLS in operation, as requested by their constituents.

All the advocacy has been truly inspiring for all of us at WMRLS. If the vote to merge garners the required 2/3 affirmative votes by our voting members, it will be essential that our member libraries and residents continue to be proactive in insisting that the unique needs of Western Mass. libraries receive MLS’s attention, support and responsiveness. This new merged organization must help the West, where 81% of the State’s smallest communities are located, across 37% of the State’s land area, isolated in so many ways from Boston. You must continue to make your voices heard. You must ensure that there is adequate funding and staffing so that delivery, advisory services and continuing education will be provided locally, much of it from the Whately facility that was designed for these very purposes. Other services will be provided by MLS in more economical, economy of scale ways.

No matter how the final vote turns out, it has been extremely gratifying for all of us at WMRLS to work on your behalf for so many years. Our attempts have always been to equalize services and support for libraries and residents across Western Massachusetts. Your responses to the current difficult situation have assured us that our work was appreciated by all of you.

Sincerely,
John Ramsay
Regional Administrator, WMRLS